BBC Worldwide Channels Promotes John Taite to VP Programming, EMEA

BBC Worldwide Channels has today announced the promotion of John Taite to the role of VP Programming, EMEA, as well as the creation of three new Heads of Scheduling roles in the region, as it looks to strengthen its programming output across its portfolio of localised channels.

Formerly Director of Programming, Taite's elevation follows another year of primetime ratings success for BBC Worldwide's channel portfolio in the EMEA region, bolstered by a number of recent tentpole programming events. 

June's Crime & Justice season – which saw five short-run detective dramas stripped across consecutive weeks on BBC Entertainment in Africa – led to an increase of 41% in the average 2030-2130 timeslot, while the British Movies season on the Polish feed of the channel resulted in a 53% increase in audience share between June and July this year.

Dean Possenniskie, GM & SVP BBC Worldwide Channels said, "John continues to demonstrate a phenomenal understanding of the BBC brand, our content and our audiences which translates time and again into high audience retention and growth, and great feedback from viewers. 

It was important that the business followed the period of rapid channel launches in the past years with a strong programming strategy, and John and his team have executed that superbly."

Since joining BBC Worldwide Channels in September 2007, Taite has overseen the creation and success of 12 fully localised channels across EMEA, as well as the recently re-launched pan-regional channel BBC Entertainment.

In his new role, Taite will have editorial control for all BBC-branded channels across EMEA, leading an expanded team of schedulers, media planners and presentation planners.

He will continue to report to Dean Possenniskie, BBC Worldwide Channels' SVP& GM for EMEA, and David Weiland, SVP Programming and TV Channels.

Said Taite of his promotion: "One of the most exciting things about working for BBC Worldwide is building synergy with our other business divisions and territories.

I'm looking forward to growing our channels business with more channel launches and more cross-divisional campaigns that harness the power of our growing network, our fantastic content and our phenomenal brand."

In addition to Taite's promotion, BBC Worldwide Channels is also expanding its EMEA programming team with the creation of three new Heads of Scheduling roles for Poland, Africa and the Nordic region.

The appointments, which will be made in the coming months, underline BBC Worldwide’s ongoing commitment to serving its audiences with programming tailored to local tastes.

Taite comes from a background in production, commissioning, US Studio acquisitions and network programming.

He joined BBC Worldwide Channels from MTV Networks UK and Ireland, where as Director of Scheduling and Acquisitions, he was instrumental in commissioning some of MTV’s biggest UK hits including, Pimp My Ride:UK, Footballer's Cribs and Virgin Diaries which won the Broadcast Best Multi-channel Programme Award in 2006.

To date, BBC Worldwide's portfolio of channels continues to perform well across EMEA.

Since launch in South Africa, BBC Worldwide has been the leading international channel portfolio among all adults (16+), while BBC Lifestyle is consistently the number one lifestyle channel on DStv.

In Poland, in October, BBC Worldwide was the leading international portfolio on DTH platform Cyfrowy Polsat (among Adults 16-49), and CBeebies the best performing children’s channel among adults 16+ with children 0-9.

In the Nordic region, portfolio has seen a 59% increase in Norway since its launch a year ago.